On March 15, 2020, about three weeks after I submitted my application, Peace Corps took the unprecedented action of evacuating all volunteers worldwide. They have evacuated volunteers from single countries or regions in the past, but never worldwide. What would reopening look like? When would it happen? Would the Peace Corps fundamentally change? No one knew. We all waited. I waited…

Over the summer of 2020, I waited… I kept working on my French with my pal Duo – the green owl mascot of Duolingo. I built a retaining wall. I gardened. I spent about six weeks working for the state’s emergency operations center. I went back to my regular work, working from home. We all waited for a vaccine.

Through the fall of 2020, I waited…. I harvested from the garden. I hunkered down for a winter of isolation, grateful to have a job I could safely do from home. I postponed a trip to see my mom as cases surged. Duo and I did a French lesson or two a day, or sometimes ten.

As we slid through late fall of 2020 and into the winter of 2021, I waited… still working. Still hunkered down. I spent a quite Christmas making my first ever gingerbread house. I did visit my mom in the spring. I started walking more. I got vaccinated! I planned and planted a garden. I planned some hikes. I got ducklings! Duo remained my constant companion.

Signs of Life

For a while, each month, Peace Corps sent out an email with resources and information on various topics: diversity, celebrations, food, etc. Somewhere along the line, I attended some online Peace Corp presentations on various topics – types of service, regions of the world, serving as an older volunteer, and the like. Of course, none of these emails or presentations answered my real questions. It was hard to be patient, but it wasn’t just me and Peace Corps, it was all of us in so many ways.

Finally, as winter turned to spring, there was something to do – fill out a new form! In early March, I received the message that Peace Corps had updated its medical screening form and all applicants were being asked to complete the new version. In the world of government bureaucracies, a new form indicates some kind of motion and I was happy for the slightest sign of movement.

Disappointment

A couple of weeks after I completed the new medical form, I received an email that I was no longer eligible for Guinea. I worked with Pre-Service Medical to review my country list and was able to have them expand it a little – but still no Guinea.

Other Options

With Guinea off the table, Peace Corp offered to consider me for other positions: Primary Education in Eastern Caribbean or HIV Prevention in South Africa. However, I know myself well enough to know that I would not particularly enjoy either of these types of work. I had to say “no.” This was not something I wanted to say to the Peace Corps. I wanted to be open to anything, but I strongly felt that it would be a disservice to me, the Peace Corps, and those I’m serving to take one of these positions.

More Disappointment

Declining to be considered for these other positions meant that in April 2021, a little over a year after I applied, my application was withdrawn from consideration for any position.

I wondered if my Peace Corps dreams were dashed.